The U.S Department of Transportation (DOT) announced the formation of a formula working group to analyze the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) and the way it allocates grant money.
MCSAP is a grant program established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The program is used to maintain states' commercial motor vehicle (CMV) enforcement programs around the country, providing critical support for state-conducted compliance investigations, roadside inspections, new entrant audits and traffic enforcement activities.
The formula working group will analyze the requirements for allocating MCSAP funds and report its recommendations to the DOT Secretary next year. It was established by DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx as a stipulation of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, signed into law by President Obama in December.
“The Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program provides critical funds each year to states to support their large truck and bus safety efforts,” said Foxx. “Now that we have expeditiously fulfilled this FAST Act requirement, I look forward to receiving the working group’s recommendations on how we can enhance and streamline this important safety grant program with the ultimate goal of making our nation’s roads safer.”
Eight of the 10 public members are from state CMV safety agencies. The group also includes two members from non-profit organizations representing state CMV enforcement agencies as a whole. FMCSA also appointed a panel of five employees from their agency to review all considerations submitted by the group.
Criteria for candidates included commitment to transfortation safety, record of collaboration with diverse stakeholders and MCSAP program leadership.
The region’s fixed-route system finished out the year with a total of 373.5 million rides. Adding 12.3 million rides over 2024 represents an increase that is equal to the annual transit ridership of Kansas City.
The service is a flexible, reservation-based transit service designed to close the first- and last-mile gaps and connect riders to employment for just $5 per day.
The upgraded system, which went live earlier this month, supports METRO’s METRONow vision to enhance the customer experience, improve service reliability, and strengthen long-term regional mobility.
The agreement provides competitive wages and reflects strong labor-management collaboration, positive working relationships, and a shared commitment to building a world-class transit system for the community, said RTA CEO Lona Edwards Hankins.
The priorities are outlined in the 2026 Board and CEO Initiatives and Action Plan, which serves as a roadmap to guide the agency’s work throughout the year and ensure continued progress and accountability on voter-approved transportation investments and essential mobility services.
